Fort Bragg: Squatter sought for torching vacation home after using it to cook up illegal drugs

The Fort Bragg Police Department is seeking the public's help finding a man suspected of setting fire to an unoccupied vacation home Sunday and manufacturing illegal drugs there, according to the FBPD.

Police took a report at 7:48 a.m. Feb. 3 that smoke was seen in the area of 130 Noyo Heights Drive in Fort Bragg. As city firefighters were extinguishing the fire, police learned the home was the unoccupied vacation home of a family from out of the area, according to the FBPD.

Neighbors reported seeing a young, Caucasian man at the home during the past few days leading up to the fire. The man had allegedly told neighbors he was doing yard work and staying at the home. Other neighbors reported recently seeing lights on inside the vacation home, but said they hadn't seen any suspicious activity, according to the FBPD.

The property owners reportedly told police they hadn't given permission for anyone to stay in the home or to do any yard work or maintenance. Investigation revealed the fire had been intentionally set, and that some sort of illegal narcotics preparation had been occurring inside, according to the FBPD. The unknown man seen at the home has not yet been identified.

The Fort Bragg Police Department is requesting that anyone with information about suspicious people or activity in the area call investigating officer Andrew Kendl at 961-2800 ext. 169, or contact him by e-mail at akendl@fortbragg.com.